Method of preparing ratan for umbrellas



UNITED STATES JAMES W. MARTIN,

PATENT OFFICE OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, J AMES IV. MARTIN, of Philadelphia, in the count-yof Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new andImproved Mode of Manufactun ing Ratan and "Whalebone for Umbrellas andSimilar Purposes, and that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the principle or character which distinguish it from allother things before known and of the usual manner of making, modifyingand using the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The nature of my improvement consists in squaring the ratan or whalebonein a machine made for the purpose and then turning their ends intoproper form for the purpose.

The apparatus for squaring the ratans is composed of three knives a, a,formed and placed like ordinary plane irons at an angle to the line ofcut and in relative position so as to form three sides of a square asclearly shown in the drawing Figure 1. These knives are confined in asuitable frame (c) affixed to a permanent bench or other fixture (d)which forms the fourth side of the square and acts as a guide to theratan, it being faced with metal for that purpose and slightly groovedto tit the curve of ratan. Just in front of the knives there is a blockof metal (e) with a groove on its under side directly above and facingthe groove before named in the bench below. This block' is held down bymeans of stout springs (71) by which it is kept in place and caused tobear upon the ratan as it enters between the 16,063, dated November 11,1856.

knives. The bolts which fasten said springs pass down through the stockand confine it to the bench and the knives to their posit-ion. Thecutter for tipping the ratan is a bur cutter of the Fig. 2 of properconfiguration. It is affixed to the end of a mandrel supported by puppetheads (8, Fig. 2,) in the ordinary way and is driven by a band from thedriving shaft (g) by which it receives a rapid revo lut-ion. Parallel tothis mandrel of the bur cutter (c) there is a hollow mandrel (it), butthis mandrel is located beyond the end of the cutter (c) and a little onone side. It has in its end next to the cutter two jaws (i, which graspthe piece of ratan that passes through the mandrel (/L). The ratanprojects far enough beyond the jaws to be brought against the bur cutterby which it is shaped. It is kept pressed against said cutter by aspring rest (e) and is caused to revolve against the cutter as itrevolves by means of a band connecting its mandrel (7i) with the drivingshaft (y). The revolution of the two mandrels produces the desiredeffect.

Having' thus fully described my apparatus what I claim therein as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The combined devices asherein described, for forming and tipping the ratans Vor whalebone forumbrella ribs.

JAS. IV. MARTIN.

I/Vitnesses N. NUoKoLLs,

J. D. CLARK.

